The heroes of the Three Kingdoms had to overcame difficulties, setbacks, and failure before they accomplished the great deeds for which they are remembered. The wisdom they applied in their most dire moments contains valuable lessons for us today.

Though the events recorded in Romance of the Three Kingdoms occurred 1,700 years ago, the exploits of ancient heroes like Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhuge Liang are still retold in countless video game and television adaptations. While we most admire these great men for their victories, modern readers can draw equal inspiration from their setbacks and failures. 

Equal parts self-help and history, The Shadow of the Three Kingdoms addresses 26 topics under four general headings: the workplace, success and failure, life choices, and the struggles behind the scenes. Each topic begins with a problem faced in modern life, such as how to make your boss see your strengths, how to develop self-confidence, or how to stay the course in difficult times. Next come stories from Records of the Three Kingdoms that are relevant to the problem, allowing modern readers to learn directly from the great leaders and heroes of the past. Finally, the author discusses the core issue at stake, and offers personal insights regarding its resolution.

Author Chang Che-Wei has a talent for explaining history in terms easily understood by modern readers. His book transports us to the distant era of the Three Kingdoms to recall the struggles that precede every victory, and to note the wisdom applied in overcoming these setbacks. Readers will learn to avoid repeating mistakes of the past, and to bravely overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving their goals.